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No. (2,836. Patented Oct. 25, I898.

' S. R. ELLIS.

RDTATURY THEATER STAGE.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1898.) (No Model.)

7: gonms erms ca. PNOTO-LITHOq wnsnmmcmv o c NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY R. ELLIS, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

ROTATO RY TH EATER-STAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,836, dated October 25, 1898.

Application filed March 12, 1898.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY R. ELLIS), a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in R0- tatory Interiors for Theatrical Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for its object to provide a device whereby the representation of the interiors of different rooms in a hotel or other building may be successively and quickly presented to the view of an audience in a theater and to construct each scene in such a manner that the usual exits at the sides and rear shall be provided.

The invention consists in a rotatory table having upon itsupper surface sections representing the interiors of rooms adapted to be presented successively to the view of an audience and provided with entrances from one room to another.

The invention further consists in a rotatory table having upon its upper surface sections representing the interiors of rooms and provided with entrances from one room to another and also a compartment not visible from the audience and to which access may be had from each of the different rooms.

The invention still further consists of a stationary auxiliary platform or stage adjacent to the rotatory table,whereby the area of the room in view of the audience is enlarged.

Referring to the drawings, Figurel is a plan of my improved rotatory interiors for theatrical purposes. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the same as seen from the auditorium of a theater. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, 1 is a rotatory table supported upon fourlegs-2 2. Said legs are braced from a center casting 8, which is supported by and is adapted to rotate upon a standard 4, having a base 5, which rests upon the floor 6. The legs 2 2 are each provided with rollers 7, which run upon a track 8, said track resting upon the floor. The upper surface of the table 1 is divided by partitions 9 into four sections or rooms 10, Said rooms are connected one with another by doors 11 in the Serial No. 673,637. [No model.)

In the center of the table 1 is a compartment 12, the interior of which is not visible to the audience, but which connects with each of the rooms 10 by swing-doors 13. In front of the table 1 is a stationary fioorin g 14, forming an auxiliary staging on a level with the top of said rotary table or with the floors of the rooms 10. Said auxiliary stage is supported at the front side by legs 15, which are hinged thereto at 16. The auxiliary stage 14 is hinged at 17 17 to uprights 18, fastened to the floor 6, so that the said auxiliary stage may be folded up in the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, in order to make room for the curtain to descend between said table and the footlights 19. A curtain 20, fastened to the. front of the auxiliary stage 14, conceals the mechanism under said stage. 'lwo side screens 22 22 extend from the partitions 9 9 to the footlights, forming a complete stagesetting.

The table 1 may be rotated by men sta tioned thereunder, or it may be rotated by means of the bevelgearing 23 24 and the shafting 25, running to the back of the stage and there rotated by a pulley or by a crank.

The operation of the device is as follows: Supposing the stage to be set for one scene, the lights are momentarily turned down and the table 1 rotated until another room is brought into view of the audience, when the lights are turned up. It will thus be seen that scenes can be changed in a moment by the use of this device.

Another manner of using the device is as follows: The table 1 may be rotated at about the speed that a man would walk or run, and the actor or actors would pass from one room to another in full view of the audience, if desired, and thus by continuously or intermittently rotating the table 1 a series of ludicrous or startling effects may be produced. It will also be observed that by the arrangement shown each room has the ordinary exits required in a stage-setting-namely, two side and a rear exit.

said compartments being provided with doors I 5 whereby access may be had from one compartment to another; in combination with an auxiliary stage, so arranged as to form an extension or enlargement of the room to which it is adjacent, and hinged to supports in such a manner, that it may be placed in a vertical or horizontal position, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

SIDNEY R. ELLIS.

Witnesses:

CHAs. I I. YALE, ANNIE BYRON. 

